Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Steps’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Steps,’ has a good uniform canopy of large dark pink flowers with a yellow/green disc. The new variety has a medium vigor and a free branching and uniform spreading habit with good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is‘Steps.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Steps’. ‘Steps’, identified as‘21174-0’ originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The female parent of the newvariety is an undistributed, unpatented seedling identified as ‘P371D4’.The male parent of the new variety is an undistributed, unpatentedseedling identified as ‘P381D4.’

The new variety ‘Steps’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetativecuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Steps’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety having dark pinksingle spoon flowers.

Comparison with Female Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are dissimilar to theparent ‘P371D4’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-sidecomparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercialpractice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ compared toplants of the parent ‘P371D4’ in the following characteristics.

1. The new variety ‘Steps’ produces dark pink single spoon flowerswhereas the parent ‘P371D4’ produces bronze single flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Steps’ have similar size and similarheight inflorescence to plants of the parent ‘P371D4.’

Comparison with Male Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are dissimilar to themale parent ‘P381D4’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-sidecomparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercialpractice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ differed fromplants of the parent ‘P381D4’ in the following characteristics.

1. The new variety ‘Steps’ produces dark pink single spoon flowerswhereas the parent ‘P381D4’ produces pink single flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Steps’ have smaller and shorterinflorescence than plants of the parent ‘P381D4’.

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are similar to ‘Scott’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,155) in plant habitat and growth rate. However,in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety‘Steps’ compared to plants of ‘Scott’ in the following characteristics.

1. The new variety ‘Steps’ produces dark pink single spoon flowerswhereas ‘Scott’ produces purple single spoon flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Steps’ have larger and tallerinflorescence than plants of ‘Scott’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Steps’ are shown in the accompanying digital photograph. Thecolors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of thiskind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Steps’ grown in a pot.The plant shown in the illustration is 55 days after the commencement ofShort Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ is ofplants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdomin the month of February. The cultivar has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantlywith variations in the environment such as temperature, length of dayand light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercialclassification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 25° C.during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 footcandles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such asB9 treatment. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinchedonce with the center bud removed. The typical container size forcommercial growth is 14 cm. It has been observed that the shelf life ofthe new variety is about 24 days with a response time of about 8 weeks.The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 17° C.to 28° C.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as potChrysanthemum. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety,color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

Plant type: Pot.

Habit: Upright and free branching.

Height: 24 cm.

Width: 34 cm.

Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching.

Length of lateral branches: 6-11 cm.

Diameter of lateral branches: 0.5-0.6 cm.

Texture of lateral branches: Slightly pubescent.

Number of breaks from pinch: 3-5.

Stem color: 137C.

Stem length: 5.5-6 cm.

Stem diameter: 0.6 cm.

Response time: 55.

Vigor: Medium.

Shelf life: 24 days.

Disease/pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed todate.

Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter B9 @2, 21 and 28 days after sticking of unrooted cuttings. The plants weregrown for 3 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of light) and thentransferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

Propagation:

Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.

Time to rooting.—12-14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.

Rooting habit.—Fine and Fibrous.

Other treatments or conditions: None.

Foliage

Numbers of leaves per lateral branch: 8-10.

Compound or single: Single.

Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.

Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed ovate.

Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 3-7 cm. Length (cm): 4-10 cm.

Leaf apex.—Rounded.

Base.—Acute.

Attachment.—Petioled.

Aspect.—Slightly undulating.

Margin.—Palmetely lobed.

Surface characteristics.—Top: Slightly pubescent. Bottom: Pubescent.

Petiole:

Color.—137C.

Length.—1.5 cm.

Diameter.—0.2 cm.

Texture.—Slightly pubescent.

Venation: Net prominent midvein at underside.

Color.—Upper side: Near 138B. Under side: Near 138C.

Color:

Mature leaf, upper side.—Near 137A; under side: Near 138A.

Young leaf, upper side.—Near 137B; under side: Near 137C.

Flower

Flower appearance: Matte.

Flower type: Single.

Flower form: Cupped.

Flower shape: Circular.

Flower habit: Cyme.

Number of blossoms per branch: 3-5.

Inflorescence form: Pyramid.

Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—1.5 cm.

Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—8.5 cm.

Sepals:

Number.—25-30.

Outer color.—Near 137C.

Length.—0.5-0.8 cm.

Width.—0.1-0.3 cm.

Texture/appearance.—Pubescent.

Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower andprogressively longer moving down the stem.

Length.—3-10 cm, average 5 cm.

Diameter.—0.5-0.6 cm.

Color.—Near 137.

Surface.—Pubescent.

Habit.—Slightly Curving.

Strength.—Moderately strong.

Pedicel:

Length.—Terminal: 2.5-6 cm; lateral: 2.5-8 cm.

Diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.

Color.—Near 138B.

Surface.—Pubescent.

Habit.—Slightly Curving.

Strength.—Moderately strong.

Ray florets:

Form/shape.—Spatulate.

Texture/appearance.—Matte.

Number per flower.—30-35.

Length.—2.5 to 5 cm. Width: 0.3-1 cmApex: Rounded.

Base.—Tubular.

Corolla tube length.—1 cm.

Corolla tube diameter.—0.2 cm.

Spoon length.—1.5 cm.

Spoon width.—0.3-1 cm.

Margin.—Entire.

Disc florets:

Form/shape.—Cylindrical.

Texture/appearance.—Shiny.

Number per flower.—200-300.

Length.—0.6 cm; Width 0.1 cm.

Diameter of disc.—2 cm.

Fragrance: None.

Flower bud (at onset of color):

Length.—1 cm.

Diameter.—1.2 cm.

Form/shape.—Globular.

General flower color:

1. Ray florets, spoon, upper side.—Immature: Near 67A. Mature: Near 67B.Older/Fading: Near 67C. Corolla tube, inner side: 67A. Corolla tube,outer side: 65B.

2. Ray florets, spoon, under side.—Immature: Near 67B. Mature: Near 67D.Older/Fading: Near 73B.

3. Disc florets.—Immature: Near 143A. Mature: Near 144B. Older/Fading:Near 151A.

4. Bud.—138B.

Flower progression with age: No change in flower form, slight colourfading as flowers mature.

Lastingness of blooms: About 24 days.

Reproductive Organs

Gynoecium: Present on Ray and Disc Florets.

Ray florets per individual flower:

Pistil number.—About 30.

Stigma color.—Near 5B.

Stigma shape.—Forked.

Style color.—Near 5B.

Style length.—0.5 cm.

Disc florets per individual flower:

Pistil number.—About 30.

Stigma color.—Near 7A.

Stigma shape.—Forked.

Style color.—Near 7A.

Style length.—0.4 cm.

Androecium: Not observed.

Fruit and seeds: None observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemumplant, substantially as described and illustrated herein.